Unofficial news and tips about Google

March 2, 2011

A New Google Error Page

Google has a new 404 error page that's displayed when you type a Google address that can't be found (for example: google.com/hosting). The new error page is supposed to be funny, but it's not useful. Google's laconic page informs visitors that "the requested URL was not found on this server. That's all we know."

Google actually knows more than that. The previous version of the error page showed a search results page that provided useful suggestions.

Can anyone please tell me why I've had the 404 error page each time I've opened the browser for almost a week now? (Google.com is my home page.) How can I fix this? I've tried to reset the home page, erase the history, needless to say turn the PC off and on, but no go. Thanks.

I don't think I've ever seen the 404 page that had the useful links on it. The 404 page that I always saw was this http://webspace.webring.com/people/ia/alastuey/images/google-404.pngAnd I think the '1' in place of the '!' in the title is suppose to be a joke. Unfortunately I think the new robot 404 page just means they are going the way Twitter (w/the Failwhale) and Tumblr (w/the green Oatmeal monsters) and so many other websites have gone with a funny/quirky little 404 page which I think is actually bad for their brand. Mostly because getting a failwhale is so much more memorable then getting a empty page that just says "server error" or "could not reach server" and makes your end user associate your brand with the failure. I think it's a bad idea and Google should switch to the "similar links" page.

@ Chad: they are in a hurry to release the new page design even though it's not fully baked because they are releasing the Chrome OS soon and they can't keep holding up to test things, they need to fix as much as possible to get everything ready for the release of the OS.

I have been getting this page with no matter What I google! I am not sure if my main google search bar has been hijacked? It works on googles home page though. I am using the latest firefox.Any ideas???

I find the new error page annoying, and I don't find it funny at all. Google really needs to step it up, they are the leaders in the web industry, can't they make something that suggests other pages and at least interacts a little more?

I was even searching for pages or keywords that do actually exist, after I searched a second time, it worked.....

if we have a problem, why cant we seek ONE ONLY website(theirs),press ONE button and its fixed automaticaly? To fix a 404 should take ONE press of a key, not take hours,hours of searching and its still not done. If it was a car, we could sue them for 'product not performing as described'. My issue is that when I double-click onto Internet Explorer icon in desktop, it always comes up with a 404 and opens as Google on my page. (but the desktop icon is set in iGoogle).Thank goodness I was donated this laptop,for if its not fixed soon, it goes in the REAL trash bin. It will be a pleasure telling others that Google doesnt care. Alex Mellins